Display rack



United Sta es 1 DISPLAY RACK Walter T. Sonksen, Panora, Iowa Application September 23, 1957, Serial No. 685,564

6 Claims. (Cl. 211-165) My invention relates to merchandise display racks and includes improved features over the disclosure in my copending application on a similar article, Serial Number 601,543 filed August 1, 1956, and now abandoned.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide an attractive merchandise display rack or board designed to effectively display goods placed thereon because of its susceptibility for a variety of adjustments to meet the display requirements under different conditions and for difierent types of merchandise.

Another object herein is the provision of a base display unit in cooperation with movable wings and including novel yieldable means for holding the wings against free movement.

A further object is to provide a display rack of the above class which is designed for permanent attachment to a store counter or to a movable stand.

Yet another object contemplated herein is the provision of a novel display rack for use preferably on a display counter that utilizes a maximum of available space without interferring with counter display area.

Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in the details of construction and correlation of the various parts and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

This invention consists of novel parts and combination of parts to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set forth are attained, as pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this invention shown in a mounting fixed to a display counter,

Fig. 2 is a perspective of movable stand for this invention showing the support rod for the. rack in' Fig. 1 in place,

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings a support base plate (Fig. 1) is provided for attachment to a counter top 12 by means of the screws 14, and I also provide a weighted base member 16 (Fig. 2) which may be freely moved to any counter or table top 18. In all other respects as will appear the structure of these base members and the rack used therewith is the same. On each respective base 10 and 16 is the upstanding standard 20 which is preferably square in cross section and is provided with the longitudinal bore 22. A set screws 24 in standard 20 communicates with bore 22 in a well known manner. Base members 10 and 16 are designed to support the vertical post or standard 26 which carries the display assembly to be later described in detail. Post 26 is formed in cross section the same as standard 20 and is provided with the internal bore 28 that registers with bore 22 in standard 20 when post '26 is placed on such standard as shown.

:Rod 30 is positionable in bores 22 and: 28 and the set screws 32 and 24 in post 26 and standard 20 respectively are engageable with such rod in a well knownrmanner. A collar or sleeve 34 (Fig. 2) of the same cross sectional shape as standard 20 and post 26 is provided for elevating post 26 relative to its base support, if desired.

To facilitate rotation of post 26 when desired, rod 30 is provided with a well 36 (Fig. 3) to receive screw 32 and this well is located at a point designed to maintain the bottom of post 26 in a slight spaced relationship above standard 20 as indicated at 38. By this means, the bottom of post 26 will not drag against the top, of standard 20 during rotation. The lower portion of rod 30 is provided with a circumscribing groove 40 (Fig. 3) which receives screw 24. Thus a slight loosening of screw 24 so as to remain within groove 40 but not bear against the inner end thereof permits rod 30 to be rotated with post 26 when screw 32 is set, and at the same time prevents the removal of rod 30 from standard 20 by being engageable with the side of the groove.

At the top of post 26 I have mounted to respective opposite sides thereof the like arms 42 and 44 which extend perpendicularly from such post in opposite directions (Fig. 1) and are L shaped in cross section or of general angle iron formation. On the lower portion of post 26 a similar pair of arms 46 and 48 are similarly mounted with arms 42 and 46 being parallel to each other in vertical spaced relationship and arms 44 and 48 being similarly situated relative to each other. A rectangular display board indicated generally at 50 is mounted to post 26 intermediate and transversely of the respective upper arms 42 and 44 and the lower arms 46 and 48. Board 50 is box-like in shape having a pair of like rectangular sheets of peg board 52 and 54 held in spaced relationship by the end frame 56 to form two like display sides. Thus arranged the chamber 57 is formed intermediate sheets 52 and 54 and post 26 is disposed within such chamber. One or more screws 59 through either or both sheets 52 and 54 are used for securing board 50 to post 26. In this way post 26 serves as a support to keep sheets 52 and 54 from being bent toward each other. The width of post 26 approximates that of frame ends 56 so that no additional bracing is necessary.

Between the outer ends of each respective pair of vertically spaced arms 42 and 46 and 44 and 48 there is swingably, adjustably and detachably mounted another display unit which I have called wings, indicated generally by the numeral 58. Each of the wings 58 is similarly constructed and mounted and thus only one will be described .in detail. Wing 58 is in effect a reduced version of board 50 and is preferably made of transparent material such as plastic which is'also true of board 50, if desired, and includes the upstanding frame, sides 60 and 62 connected by the vertically spaced horizontal rails 64 and 66 which are boxed in by the peg boards 68 and '70. A suitable lighting fixture 72 is mounted between boards 68 and 70 on the lower rail 64 and connects by cord 74 to an electric power supply.

Opposite ends of wing 53 at the top and bottom thereof are pivotally attached to the respective outer ends, of the pairs of arms 42 and 46 and 44 and 48 so that the major portion of the wing projects outwardly from its supporting arm and can be swung like a door from side to side by a customer to view the displays on either board 68 and 70 or to better expose any merchandise displayed on board 5%). Experience has demonstrated that wings 58 receive a considerable amount of handling and that it isdesirable to mount them in such a manner as to beeasily. swingable and yet held against unlimited movement that would permit them to move freely against board 50 or any items thereon. For this purpose I have designed an improved yieldable pivot member, '76 as, shown inFig; 4. Onesuch member 76 is mounted in the respective top rail 66 and bottom rail 64 of each wing 58. Member 76 includes a coil spring 78 having an internally threaded nut 80 rigidly secured to oneend in concentric relationship thereto and a mounting plate 82 rigidly secured to the other end. 'Such plate is provided with an opening 79 concentrically arranged with spring 78. and nut 80. As shown in Fig. 4 one member 76 is mounted in the upper portion of wing 50 by attaching plate 82 to the inner side of rail 66 .with screws 84 so that spring 78 with nut 80 depends therefrom toward rail 64. The other member 76 is similarly mounted to the inner side of rail 64 by screws 86 so that spring 78 extends upwardly in wing 58 in vertical alignment with the upper member 76. A screw j or threaded bolt 88 is used for securing the wing to each member 76 as shown in Fig. 4. Such screw is inserted in appropriate openings in the horizontal portion of the L shaped arms so that its shank extends through the 1 opening 79 in plate 82 through the spring 78 and threadably engages the nut. Each screw had a kerfed head 90 which bears against the respective arms as shown. One or more washers 92 are placed on screw 88 intermediate the respective arm and adjacent end of the wing 58 to facilitate the swingability thereof.

Wings 58 thus mounted can be moved parallel to their supporting arms in which position they will be perpendicular to board 50, or perpendicular to such arms so as to be parallel to and spaced from board 50 or to any intermediate position. They will remain stationary in any'position due to the pivot member 76 which can be adjusted by rotation of screw 88 in nut 80 to compress or expand spring 78 and thus apply more or less tension ,betweenthe wings 58 and their supporting arms. Wings :58 may also be adjusted longitudinally of the supporting arms by means of the wing holes 94 and slots 96 in the top and bottom rails 66 and 64. A lock pin 98 is employed to hold the wing 58 against movement relative to its supporting arm at times as shown in Fig. 4 and when wing is not to be locked, pin 98 may be stored in one of the openings 96 of rail 66. Wings 58 are -easily removed from or adjusted on the supporting arms .42 and 46, and 44 and 48 by sliding head 90 of screw pasta-u? 88 out of slot 96. Head 90 is normally under spring .tension against such arms and such tension is released by passing a rod shown in phantom at 100 through an opening 102 in frame side 60 of wing 50 so that a force can be applied to the shank end of screw 88 to unseat the head 90.

In operation it will be understood that both sides of board 50 and wings 58 may be used for the display of merchandise. Wings 58 are individually swingable to better display either respective side or to better expose different portions of board 50, and board 50 with wings 58 may be rotated as desired on either base 10 or 16. By use of sleeve 34 on standard 20 (Fig. 2) the wings 58 and board 50 can be elevated so as not tointerfer with the display of goods on counter 12.

It will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a display rack, a base, an upstanding post mounted thereto for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means to selectively hold said post against rotation relative to said base, a pair of parallel arms each secured at one respective end to said post in vertical spaced relationship so as to project perpendicularly therefrom, a display board mounted to said post intermediate said arms so as to project beyond opposite sides of said post transversely of said arms, a second display board swingably mounted at respective opposite ends to the projecting ends of said arms, means holding said second display board at any given position in its path of movement, said means comprising a coil spring, an internally threaded nut rigidly secured to one end thereof, a mounting plate rigidly secured to theother end thereof, said plate secured to one end of said second display board, and an externally threaded bolt having a head engaged in an opening in one of said arms with its shank portion extending through said spring and threadably engaging said nut whereby alternate rotation of said bolt in said nut in opposite directions will selectively increase and decrease spring tension to respectively increase and decrease the freedom of movement of said second display board relative to said arm.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 including releasable lock means for securing said second display board to one of said arms to prevent relative movement thereof.

3. In a display rack, a base, an upstanding post mounted thereto for rotation about its longitudinal axis, means to selectively hold said post against rotation relative to said base, a pair of parallel arms each secured at one respective end to said post in vertical spaced relationship so as to project perpendicularly therefrom,

a display board mounted to said post intermediate said arms so as to project beyond opposite sides of said post transversely of said arms, a second display board swingably mounted at respective opposite ends to the projecting ends of said arms, means holding said second display board at any given position in its path ofmovement, said means comprising a yieldable member terminating at one end in an integral internallythreaded fitting and at the other end in an integral mounting plate, said plate secured to one. end of said second display board, and a threaded fastening member engaged at one end with one of said arms and threadably engaged at. the other end with said fitting whereby alternate rotation of said fasten-. ing member in said fitting in opposite directions will selectively increase and decrease tension on said yieldable member to respectively increase and decrease the freedom of movement of said second display board rclative to said arm. i

4. A device as defined in claim 3 including releasable rock means for securing said second display board to one of said arms to prevent relative movement thereof at times. a

5. In a display rack, a base, an upstanding post mounted thereto for rotation about its longitudinal axis,

.means to selectively hold said post against rotation relative to said base, a pairof parallel arms each secured at one respective end to said post in vertical spaced relationship so as to project perpendicularly therefrom, a

display board mounted to said post intermediate said arms so as to project beyond opposite sides of said post "transversely of said arms; a second display board swinghold said second display board at any selected position relative to said arm, and releasable locking means connecting one of said arms and said second display board to selectively hold said display board immovable relative to said arm.

1 means to selectively hold said post'against rotation relative .to said base, apair of parallel arms each secured at one respective end to said post in vertical spaced relationship so as to project perpendicularly therefrom, a display boardmounted to said. post intermediate said arms so as to projectbeyondopposite sides of said post transversely of said;arms,xa second display board swingablyimounted at respective opposite ends to the projecte ing ends of said arms, yieldable means connected between one of said arms and said second display board to yieldingly hold said second display board at any selected position relative to said arm, said second display board swingable to a position where the free end thereof is intermediate said arms, and releasable locking means connecting one of said arms and said second display board to selectively hold said display board immovable relative to said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sibley July 27, 1897 Romm Dec. 26, 1922 Goldberg Jan. 12, 1926 Seaman et al Feb. 24, 1931 Filbert Aug. 6, 1940 Kenney Mar. 13, 1951' 

